I've been researching my family's roots for nearly 25 years. My main focus has been on my paternal side of the family. I have two ancestors who came to Canada via the underground railroad. My 3rd gr-grandfather was Francis Deadman was born in Virginia around 1799 and was described in his naturalization papers as a 'mulatto' Francis married an English girl named Elizabeth Sike(s) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 26 Feb 1837. They had one child, a daughter named Margaret Deadman born in Toronto abt 1838 - 29 Jan 1930. Francis came to Canada with his brother Moses Deadman, who also married an English girl whose name was Elizabeth (Betsy), Hilliard. Moses and Betsy had one child, a son named Joseph Francis Deadman born 1 April 1841 in Toronto, he married a girl named Catherine McFadyen in Owen Sound 3 Feb 1870. I have not been able to find Joseph or his wife Catherine aftr 1870. I have no idea if 'Deadman' was their slave name or if Francis and Moses gave themselves this name when they arrived in Canada

My 4th gr-grandfather was Henry Miller (abt 1792 (Maryland, USA) - April 1869 Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada). Henry, his wife Priscilla Barnes (family folklore says that she was a free woman), their daughters Catherine and Rachel and their son Thomas Henry, and his son Thomas Henry Jr., escaped from the Barnes plantation in Maryland. I have documentation of Henry settling on crown land in Sullivan Township, Grey County, Ontario, Canada on 21 Oct 1842. He became a natuarlized citizen on 15 April 1843. Family folklore tells us that the surname of Miller was taken when they found freedom in Canada.

My grandfather was Frank Newton Lee born on 1 July 1884 in Maysville, Kentucky, USA. His parents were William Henry Lee (abt 1847 Kentucky - 1930 KY) and Mary Ann Tanner Abt 1853 in Old Virginia - 1922 Maysville, KY) The earliest documentation that I have found for Wm. Henry and Mary Ann Lee is the 1870 census, which leads me to believe that they very well were born into slavery.

Nancy Lee
Barrie, Ontario